Qatari female jockey Maryam Al Subaiey gallops into glory
Qatar is a country that is known to break away from stereotypes and give its citizens ample opportunities to shine in new fields.
Maryam Al Subaiey, a female Qatari jockey who is taking on the largely male-dominated sport, is the latest entrant into the pantheons of Qatar’s great go-getters.
Not even a nasty fall earlier this year could dissuade her from her dream of racing horses.
“I don’t have to do things that people expect from me as a woman,” Maryam, who is 31, told AFP.
“I’m expected to be a businesswoman and eventually get married and have kids. But being a female athlete is very different,” she said.
Her dream came true on February 24 at Qatar’s Racing and Equestrian Club, where she took to the track for the first time.
Although she finished eleventh out of 14 runners in the ‘Thoroughbred Handicap’ on her mount ‘Comedy Night,’ the bigger thing was that she raced at all.
Officials say she is the first ever Qatari female jockey to take part in a ranking race.
“I still can’t believe I’m here. The importance of my presence here isn’t just the fact that I’m the first female Qatari jockey — I’m here for all female Qataris and all female Khaleejis,” she said, according to Qatar Tribune.
Disaster had struck in her second race back home in March.
She fell from her horse, sustaining severe injuries, including a double fracture to her pelvis.
“My family was so devastated, but they know I’m going to go back to racing. They know I’m stubborn and they know I can never say no,” she said.
